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2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

167 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Steering complaints

13 reports
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174,348 miles · Sep 29, 2014
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DROVE IT HOME FROM OVER TWO HOURS AWAY, DROVE IT ALL AROUND THE DAY BEFORE, NO PROBLEMS. THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BYPASS AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT IT OFF AND ONCE I TURNED IT BACK …

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BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DROVE IT HOME FROM OVER TWO HOURS AWAY, DROVE IT ALL AROUND THE DAY BEFORE, NO PROBLEMS. THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BYPASS AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT IT OFF AND ONCE I TURNED IT BACK OVER IT WAS JUST FINE. SO I CAUTIOUSLY STARTED DRIVING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD ONLY THIS TIME IT STALLED THEN REGAINED POWER AND QUICKLY SHUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT WAS FINE, IT DID THIS TO ME 5 TIMES WITHIN 5 MILES. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWO OF THOSE TIMES BY OTHER VEHICLES, ONCE WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD. I AM GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE ON TWO LANE ROADS WITHOUT ROOM TO PULL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639720

176,612 miles · Aug 31, 2014
SteeringWheels

I WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP THAN SOME GRINDING SO I LISTENED AND IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT TIRE. I JACKED IT UP THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WHEN U FREELY TURNED THE WHEEL U HEARD GRINDING FROM THE BEARINGS BEING NO GOOD. I THINK THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY IS OUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART WHEN I NOTICED THERE…

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I WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP THAN SOME GRINDING SO I LISTENED AND IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT TIRE. I JACKED IT UP THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WHEN U FREELY TURNED THE WHEEL U HEARD GRINDING FROM THE BEARINGS BEING NO GOOD. I THINK THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY IS OUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM 2007NFOR THEM THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 07E106000 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS TRUE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629662

91,000 miles · Jun 2, 2013
Steering

IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514721

133,600 miles · Apr 18, 2010
Exterior LightingPower TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE; DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DEFECTS; HEAD LAMPS & LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. BIGGEST ISSUE IS TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT WAS NIGHT-TIME DRIVING WITH LITTLE OR NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE IN…

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TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE; DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DEFECTS; HEAD LAMPS & LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. BIGGEST ISSUE IS TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT WAS NIGHT-TIME DRIVING WITH LITTLE OR NO OPPORTUNITY TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE INTERSTATE. OTHER FAMILY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR GOES OUT GRADUALLY, AS THE LIQUID THAT DEFROSTS THE MIRROR GOES BAD AND LEAKS INTO THE MIRROR. THIS MIRROR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, AT THE COST OF $400+. THIS MIRROR IS ALSO A HAZARD AS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO USE THE MIRROR TO ADEQUATE LANE AND TRAFFIC MANEUVERING. THE STEERING COLUMN ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE LOOSE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AS OF TODAY'S DATE, TO CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326202

40,000 miles · Sep 18, 2009
SteeringStructure

WE OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CURRENT MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AT 20,000 MILES. AT SOME POINT AFTER 36000 WE STARTED NOTICING A "CLUNKING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN WE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. I AN EMPLOYED AT A SCHOOL AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED ON 3 OF IT'S 2004 CHE…

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WE OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CURRENT MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AT 20,000 MILES. AT SOME POINT AFTER 36000 WE STARTED NOTICING A "CLUNKING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN WE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. I AN EMPLOYED AT A SCHOOL AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED ON 3 OF IT'S 2004 CHEVROLET 1500 SUBURBANS, EACH WITH JUST OVER THE 36,000 WARRANTY MILEAGE. EACH COST ABOUT $370.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284502

32,000 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Steering

BAD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL VERY SCARY NO MATTER WHO OR WHICH DIRECTION YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL THERE IT IS THIS HORRIBLE NOISE COME ON CHEVY THIS IS A FAMILY CAR IT SHOULD BE SAFE IS SCARY CHEVY DON'T BE A BLE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IS ALREADY AT 75,000 AND I HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS 23K MILES WHAT'S GOIN…

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BAD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL VERY SCARY NO MATTER WHO OR WHICH DIRECTION YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL THERE IT IS THIS HORRIBLE NOISE COME ON CHEVY THIS IS A FAMILY CAR IT SHOULD BE SAFE IS SCARY CHEVY DON'T BE A BLE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IS ALREADY AT 75,000 AND I HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS 23K MILES WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU CHEVY PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265388

30,000 miles · Mar 4, 2009
Steering

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT HAS A BAD VIBRATION AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATE THEIR IS NO RECALL, BUT I KNOW OF 4 PEOPLE WITH CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF…

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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT HAS A BAD VIBRATION AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATE THEIR IS NO RECALL, BUT I KNOW OF 4 PEOPLE WITH CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE IF LEFT UNFIXED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. I ONLY HOPE WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260761

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2009
Steering

UNDER WARRANTY, BROUGHT CAR IN FOR LOOSE, VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL IN 2004. DEALERSHIP DID SOMETHING TO MAKE IT QUITE BUT 3 MONTHS LATER IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID TO GET THE CAR GREASED. IT ONLY LASTS A LITTLE WHILE. SO HAS TO BE REPEATEDLY DONE. I'M AFRAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255809

60,000 miles · Dec 31, 2008
Steering

CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, CALLED CHEVROLET (THEY GAVE ME A CASE #)SINCE INTERNET SEARCH EXPOSED MANY OTHERS SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE A TSB #000235003 ABOUT THIS AND HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVROLET WANTS ME TO PAY A $99 DIAGNOSIS FEE AND THEY MIGHT HELP ME WITH TH…

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CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, CALLED CHEVROLET (THEY GAVE ME A CASE #)SINCE INTERNET SEARCH EXPOSED MANY OTHERS SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE A TSB #000235003 ABOUT THIS AND HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVROLET WANTS ME TO PAY A $99 DIAGNOSIS FEE AND THEY MIGHT HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253413

26,000 miles · Mar 22, 2008
Steering

KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM. MY BROTHER HAD A 2004 CHEVY ALSO AND IT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE ALSO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE 36 K WARRANTY THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS. I AM SURE THIS IS OCCURRING IN OTHER 2004 CHEVY …

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KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM. MY BROTHER HAD A 2004 CHEVY ALSO AND IT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE ALSO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE 36 K WARRANTY THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS. I AM SURE THIS IS OCCURRING IN OTHER 2004 CHEVY SUBURBANS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222020

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.